Westonbirt is a perfect example of one of those tiny Cotswold places that you might drive through in a blink, but is full of history and stories. Westonbirt House was one of the most expensive of its time - built by the Holford family, whose family fortune came from the New River Company - which brought fresh water into London.

Years ago, when maths teachers were cruel to children (sometimes) they would ask a class 'which weighs more, a ton of feathers or a ton of iron?' Many children would quickly answer, 'iron' - wrong, of course.

In Tetbury a competitive race takes place...

This dowager lady of an hotel, which has lived many lives over the years has had a sympathetic facelift and yet a new name ’The Painswick’.

Since a sale in 2005 this dear old Palladian hotel has drifted slightly out of control, changing hands too often - no one wanting,...

Say the word 'Barnsley' to many people and they will imagine the slightly down at heel northern town, with a past reliant on coal mining, glass making, flat caps and ferret racing - and at one time home of George Orwell, that is when he was not living near Painswick , the...

The origins of this hotel are interesting indeed…
The Holford family of Westonbirt, near Tetbury, lived and farmed here from 1665, occupying firstly an Elizabethan house. In 1839 the head of the family, Robert Staynor Holford, inherited a fortune from his uncle, who had...

Sunshine, a rare sight recently, greeted us in Barnsley. Inside the welcome was also very sunny, from a friendly staff with Sian in charge. We were led to our table and looked after delightfully for the next two hours plus. A simple but comprehensive menu was perfect for Sunday lunch particularly in the roast beef department, though there was a good showing of fish.

This month our destination was the Swan Hotel in Bibury, which has been loved for two centuries because of its idyllic position overlooking the sleepy river Coln .

William Morris, he of wallpaper and furniture design fame, that archetypal...

My choice was quail poached and roast. Again, good looking, moist (as in slough?) with delicious harmonious flavours. 

In the charming Cotswold honeypot village of Broadway, Worcestershire, there was a furniture factory where Gordon Russell  carried the banner of the Arts and Crafts  movement and skilled craftsmanship well into the 20th century.

The name ‘Chipping Campden' has intrigued people for years.

Many see (or think they see) the word ‘sheep’ in ‘chip’ and, indeed it was wool money that made the grand architecture of this delightful town so...